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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2902, 19 February 1891, Page 2

Snt (!. WniTMOiiK addressed the following to Mr Ballancc through the columns of the Wanganui Herald. It was called forth by the denunciation of land holders indulged in by Mr Ballance in a political speech, in the course of which he taunted what lie termed the, Tory candidates with having failed to "face the music of a graduated Land-tax." Sir Ceorge writes :

" IJu i'uiluil to sec tliu joke in ;i proposal to single out, one industry ami crush it with unjust and excup tioiuil taxation. <>£ wursß the colony must pay for many years to come for the infamous public; works policy, but that this was \iolentl> opposed by the and interest so obnoxious to you. and tint owners of pastoral ostntos have not piotitcd at all in proportion to the burdens they already bear owing to that policy, hardly needs assertion, as it is too well known. Agricultural proportion in n, £cw instiiiiccs nin.y have profited, but when tlis crushing load of rates? they bear is considered L almost doubt the fact, yet you hold up to obloquy, apply insulting epithets to and violently denounce gentlemen who long before the bulk of the settlers

1.1 <l;iv lii'iMliii'il lit' lilfl-in^ : In' i! i .Ui'l jii'i v;itioiis ut .Now '/•■ il;i!iil ih it tlli'tl !.}' I'Ulir.iy anil i: 11! 11 sll .set t It-il ill' 1 country, ami jmvi'ii I lie iv.'iv to tip; compara ti vr soi; uiit v air] i-iiiiifiil't 111F: |)!'ij -it'llt pulii ii-i.ins f.< 111 1.1 awaitintj tlli'lll wii 'ii tin• y ii rri veil. 1' was tlmse 111 ieini'ii. If"), whoso in vt'sr int'll t i.t' tlii-ir capital in lii 1111 for yi'.irs ] i r'» v i. 1r 11 tli" i c vim iU" to tli; vulojj tl).' ri'sourri -s of the colony. Muny went further than they could from thi'ir own mcnii-; unit borrowed from -.n-'li nwn ii.~ Sir 1 (Jrey, .M r Tnli.'inu-liic. i'.v.. nmi upplied nil Ilicv hail. all tlicy borrowed, and ill tli"V earned for n-rjuartor of a .■•■utni'v, witli pati nt self-denial and toil to converting fern and fore.st-cliid hi ! is into re-pro-duelivo pastures. It is not all that flitters in sheep any more than in most other things. Many failed to reach that competence in old a"e which their devotion deserved. .Many stumbled—many t'e.ll liy the way,and it was only those who were fortunate who survived the battle. It ii these settlers whom you venture to taunt that it was their work which made the colony such as nine-tent.hs of the population have known it. It is still their industry which carries the load of the whole colony on its back. They have never been a class who oppressed or were illiberal, b'or forty years past the world lias known no spot where labour has been so highly remunerative, or where it lias had so many and such good openings. Had these persons simply lent their capital to others they might, during the quarter of a century they toiled without return, re-investing all they made, have liv;:d at ease, far from wars or labour troubles, unconcerned by markets, seasons, or changes of the New Zetland laws, and lived, as they had bepn brought up to live in London or in Paris if thev chose."